Sushma Swaraj hits at Pakistan, says promoters of terrorism must be made to pay the cost

New Delhi: Amid criticism that India failed to obtain consensus on reference to cross-border terrorism in Brics declaration, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said threat of terror featured strongly in the narrative of the Summit and there was a growing recognition that it has become a truly global challenge.

Two days after the Brics Summit in Goa where India forcefully highlighted terror emanating from Pakistan, she said there was no bigger global challenge than "state-sponsored" and "state-protected terrorism, asserting those supporting terror networks must be made to pay the cost.

In clear reference to Pakistan, Swaraj said there is a need to extract costs from those who sponsor and support terrorists and provide them sanctuary and continue to make the "false distinction" between "good and bad terrorists".

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. PTI

Swaraj was delivering an address at the Brics media forum.

In an obvious reference to Pakistan blocking several pacts on transport and connectivity in Saarc, Swaraj referred to growing cooperation on these issues among Bimstec nations, noting "There cannot be a greater contrast with those who reject even trade and connectivity for political reasons." On deliberations at the Brics, Swaraj said while the economic engagement and political cooperation remained key factors, there was a sharp realisation that global development and prosperity was very much dependent on continued peace and security.

"Terrorism was universally recognised as a key threat to stability, progress and development. Consequently, it featured strongly in the conference narrative and its eventual outcome. "Indeed, what we saw was not just an understanding of the dangers posed by terrorism to the economic aspirations of the world but a growing recognition that this has now become a truly global challenge that the international community can only ignore at its peril," she said.

There was criticism of the government after consensus eluded on reference to cross-border terror in Brics declaration. Without naming any country, Swaraj said there has always been an overarching political context for the Brics meetings which essentially underlines that a serious global discourse cannot be the "preserve" of a few countries with a "narrow agenda".

"There is a developing consensus that it cannot be business as usual. We must be prepared to extract costs for those who sponsor and support terrorists, who provide them sanctuary, and who, despite their own claimed victimhood, continue to make the false distinction between good and bad terrorists.

"Brics has always been global in its approach and today, there is no bigger global challenge than state-sponsored and state-protected terrorism," she said.